Wheel cover



G. A. LYON WHEELV COVER Oct. 6, 1953 Filed Jan.

Patented Oct. 6, 1953 UNITED STATES oFFicl:v

11 Claims.

wheelssuch as automobile wheels.

An important object of the present invention retaining engagement with the terminal flange of thetire rim of the wheel.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved vehicle Wheel cover having novel retaining. clip means for retainingly engaging the terminal iange of the tire rim of a wheel for retaining the cover on the wheel.

Still another object of the invention is to provide improved retaining clip means for retaining vehicle wheel covers in place on a vehicle wheel.

Accordingto the ent invention there is provided in a wheel strucien-t connecting structure.

According to otherV vention the retaining clip structure is formed marginal flange on the cover.

According to still other general the invention the retaining clip structure com- According to yet other general features of the invention there is provided in a cover for disposition at the outer side of a vehicle wheel, a

cle" wheel having thereon the present invention; c

Figure '2 is an enlarged radial sectional detail View taken substantially on the line 11i-1I of Figure 1;

Figure 34 is a sectional view similar to Figure 2 but showing the cover in process of being applied;

Figure 4 is a 2 but showing' cover; and

Figurel 5 isv a sectional view similar to Figure 4.' but showing a further modified form of cover.

As shown on the drawings:

A vehicle wheel with which the present invention is adapted to be used, such as an automobile and a tire rim The tire rim is of the multi-flanged, drop pneumatic tire and tube" assembly I2 andk including a generally radially extending side iiange I3, a generally axially outwardly extending intermediate ange I4, and a terminal flange I5 which has the extremity portion thereof generally curved to provide sectional view similar to Figure a modified construction of the The cover I8 preferably comprises a central crown portion I9, an intermediate generally dished annular portion 20 of concave cross section, and an outer marginal portion 2l of conand preferably arranged to overlie the outer side of the tire rim and more particularly the terminal flange I5 thereof and with f the edge extremity of the cover lying in spaced relation to the extremity edge of the tire rim terminal flange.

In order to retain the cover are provided for snap-on, pry-off engagement with the terminal flange I of the tire rim. To this end, the cover margin 2l is equipped with a series of retaining spring clips 22 which are constructed and arranged for snap-on, pry-off engagement within the radially inward groove I1 of the tire rim terminal flange. There may be as many of these spring clips 22 as desired disposed behind the marginal portion 2l of the cover and preferably arranged in symmetrically spaced relation about the periphery of the cover. As shown in Figures l, 2 and 3, the spring clips 22 are preferably formed separately from the cover body and are assembled with an underturned marginal flange 23 on the cover. This ange comprises an integral flange in one piece with theV marginal portion 2l of the cover and preferably lies in spaced parallel relation therebehind, being joined therewith on a short radius reinforcing rib 24 which projects generally radially outwardly and lies in spaced relation to the tip or extremity edge of the terminal flange I5. Y vlilach of appropriate gauge spring sheet spring steel and comprises a retaining loop 25 which provides aV generally radially outwardly projecting arcuate shoulder engageable in retaining relation within the groove I1 of the tire rim. By preference the loop 25 is of an initial radius which is slightly greater than the radius of the groove I1 so that in assembly the loop 25 effects a snug tensioned somewhat curled, contractile engagement within the groove I1.

Each of the clips 22 has resilient means connecting theY same to the flange 23. For this purpose each of the clips 22 is formed with a resilient connecting loop 21 having a base 28 including an offsetting bend 29 and a terminal flange 30. The terminal flange 30 is clamped betweenthe reentrant inner groove portions of the marginal portion 2 I of the cover and the marginal flange 23, while the offsetting bend 29 extends through a slot 3l in the flange 23 and with the body portion 28 resting against the axially inner face of the flange slot 3l. Thereby locked with the flange 23 and is clamped between the flange 23 and the marginal portion 2l of the cover.V In side elevation each of the clips 22 is of sinuous S-shape or gooseneck shape.

Each of the clips 22 has the retaining loop portion 25 thereof preferably projecting radially outwardly beyond the edge extremity 24 of the coverrto a sumcient extent to effect resilient, retaining engagement with the tire rim terminal flange I5. Therefore, in order to apply the cover to the wheel, the cover is disposed in generally centered relation tothe outer side of the wheel and with the loops 25 of the clips engaging the edge of the tire rim terminal flange I5 substantially as shown in Figure 3. In this position, the radially outwardly facing shoulder of the loop 25 of each of the clips tends to restrain further radial inward movement of the cover. Therefore axially inward force applied to the cover causes the loops 21 of the clips to flex and that portion of the underturned marginal flange 23 of the cover therefore enters into engagement with the axially outer side of the retaining loop 25 of each of the clips so that as further axially inon the Wheel, means the clips 22 's preferably formed from 23 radially inwardly from the the base of the clip is intermetal such as ward force is applied to the cover the cover margin acting against the retaining loops 25 of the clips forces the same to cam inwardly and curl upon themselves sumciently as well as to further 21 more or less radially inwardly and by this compound ilexure displace the loops 25 sufficiently radially inwardly to snap past the radially inwardly directed edge of the terminal flange I5 and into the groove I1 of the terminal flange. After the clip loops 25 have snapped into retaining relation within the terminal ange groove I1, the cover is retained effectively in generally floating relation upon the wheel, the resilience of the clips enabling not only generally radial movement of the cover but also axial movement. Tension of the clips 22 to afford substantial resistance to axial inward displacement of the cover is enhanced by engagement of the axially inwardly facing shoulders of the loops 271 against the axially outwardly facing generally radially extending portion of the terminal flange I5.

To remove the cover |13 from the Wheel, a pryofl' tool such as a screw driver or the like (not shown) may be inserted into the gap between the edge of the tire rim terminal flange I5 and the extremity 2li of the cover and leverage applied to force the margin of the cover axially outwardly until the resilient spring clips have snapped out of engagement with the tire rim terminal flange I5.

If desired and Where the inherent resilience of the material from which the cover is made permits, the retaining clips for the cover may be formed integrally in one piece with the cover as shown in Figure 4. In this form of the invention, a cover 38 which may also be of a full disk type and including an intermediate concave cross section portion 39 merging with 2. relatively small radius convex marginal portion lill having an underturned marginal reinforcing flange lll, has retaining clips l2 formed integrally in one piece -with the ange M. By preference the underturned reinforcing marginal flange M is of substantial width and extends generally radially and axially inwardly generally complementary to the curve of the marginal portion l0 and is joined with such marginal portion on a very small radius reinforcing terminal rib 43.

Each of the clips ll2 comprises a. one piece integral extension of the marginal flange lll and may be formed of any width desired, including a tire rim terminal flange engagement and retaining loop All and a return bent sinuous conecting resilient portion 45. In this form of the invention the loop 2li is of large radius, generally complementary to the radius of the underturned flange 4I and lying in spaced relation thereto. The radially outer portion of the loop lf-l provides a retaining shoulder which preferably projects radially outwardly beyond the cover terminal edge i3 to a distance which assures snug retaining, tensioned engagement within the channel or groove I1 of the tire rim terminal flange.

Similarly as described in connection with the form of Figure 2, the clips 22 of the cover 38 are interengaged with the tire rim terminal flange in a preliminary sense by resting the axially inner Il@ against the edge of the terthen applying axial inward force against the cover to cause the flange 4I to engage against the opposing axially outwardly facingrshculder of the loops G4 and then by further pressure flexure of the loop 44 and the connecting sinuous portion i5 enables the clips 42 2,654,637 to snap into retaining engagement within the terfrom the scope of the novel concepts of the presminal Iiange groove l1. In this retained interent invention, C engaged relationship, the clips d2 support the The following claims are limited to the species wheel cover in substantially oating condition disclosed herein, since the generic claims will both radially and axially. Axially inward move- 5 be found in my copending application Serial ment of the cover is, of course, limited by engage- No. 306,662, filed August 27, 1952, which is a conment with the humps or backs of the cover retaintinuation-in-part of an application led earlier ing spring loops i4 which serve as cushioning than the instant application but now abandoned. stops for the cover. I claim as my invention:

In the modification of Figure 5, a cover ll of i l. In a wheel structure including a wheel body one piece sheet material construction is shown and a tire rim and wherein the tire rim has a inward extensions of the edge of the nange resilhaving retaining clip means thereon comprising ient sinuous generally goosenecl; retaining clips a resilient serpentine structure providing a re- The juncture of the flange l with the martaining shoulder loop curled under and directed ginal portion is on a very short radius stifengenerally radially outwardly and retainingly ening and reinforcing rib 53 which in assembly lies 20 gageable in the groove of the tire rim, and resilin spaced relation to the edge of the terminal ient connecting means for the loop with the flange I5. Each of the retaining clips 52 of the margin of the wheel cover and having a return cover includes a generally arcuate retaining loop bent juncture with the radially inner side por- 54 facing generally radially outwardly and of a tion oi the loop, said connecting means being diameter to engage in snug tensioned engagement resiliently deiiectable to enable engagement of within the groove l'! of the tire rim. Similarly the cover margin with sai-d loop on relative axial as the clips 22, the clips 52 have the loops 54' deflection of the clip and cover margin as perthereof initially slightly larger radius than the mitted by said resilient connecting means.

cross sectional radius of the grooves Il so that 2. In a wheel structure including a wheel body there is an expansion uncui'ling resilient snug 30 and a tire riin and wherein the tire rim has a engagement within the groove il in the assemteiminal iiange providing a radially inwardly bled relation of the cover with the wheel opening annular groove adjacent the outer eX- marginal flange 5l. 40 ient connecting means for the loop with the In applying the cover 43, the axially inner sides margin of the wheel cover and having a return of the shoulders aiorded by the clip loops 5ft are bent juncture With the radially inner side DOP applied to the edge of the tire rim terminal flange On Of the 10023, Said COnIleCing means 108mg l5 and axially inward pressure applied to the resiliently deiiectable to enable engagement of @over to resiliently Stress the Clips 52 into engage- 45 the cover margin with said loop on relative axial ing engagement with the terminal ange, from and connected to the wheel cover through Both the covers 3B and 48 can be readily dis- 50 the medium of an underturned marginal flange lodged from the tire rim by applying pry-off tool 0n the COVBI- force to the reinforced edge of the @over by in- 3- In a Wheel Structure incu'ding. a Wlieel body of the cover and levering the cover axially out- 55 opening annular glgove adjacent the outer eX" ward until the resilient cli-ps yield and release n emltyof the termmal ange a Wheel @Ver for the @over from the Whee1- disposition .at theouter side of the wheel and In au forms of the invention the @over is re having retaining clip means thereon comprising a .v i v resilient serpentine structure providing a retamed at a plurahty of ppmts on the the um bJ tai-ning shoulder loop curled under and directed generally radially outwardly and retainingly engageable in the groove of the tire rim and resilient connecting means forthe loop with the the marginal gap persisting in assembly between G5 bent juncture. with the radially inner side' porthe edge of the cover and the edge of the terinition of thev loop, said connecting means, being nal danse 0f the tire rim, adequate air Cil'ularesiiienny deeciatie to enabie engagement of tiOn between the edge Of the COVE-'f and the il'e the cover margin with said loop on relative axial rim is provided for where that is desired. The deflection of the clip and cover margin as per- ClpS SelVe 110i? Only aS retaining structures but 70 mitted by said resilient connecting means, the also as effective resilient buffers for the cover retaining clip structure comprising integral inwith objects such as curbing during service. flange of the wheel cover.

It will be understood that modincations and 4. In a wheel structure including a multivariations may be effected without departing flanged tire rim having a terminal ange including' a generally radially extending portion and a generally axially extending portion, the axially extending portion having a generally radially inwardly opening annular groove, a cover member for the outer side of the wheel including an outer marginal portion having a plurality of retaining clips therebehind, each of said clips including a curled contractile loop portion engaging in said groove and a radially inner loop portion connected to the cover margin, said engaging loop portion having an axially outer intermediate side portion thereof opposing the marginal portion of the cover and engageable thereby to force the engaging loop portions of the clips past the extremity of the terminal flange of the tire rim when applying the cover to the wheel, said inner loop portion extending generally axially inwardly and opposing said radially extending portion of the tire rim terminal flange.

5. In a wheel structure including a multiflanged tire rim having a terminal flange including a generally radially extending portion and a generally axially extending portion, the axially extending portion having a generally radially inwardly opening annular groove, a cover member for the outer side of the wheel including an outer marginal portion having a plurality of retaining clips therebehind, each of said clips including a curled contractile loop portion engaging in said groove and a radially inner loop portion connected to the cover margin, said inner loop portion extending generally axially inwardly and opposing said radially extending portion of the tire rim terminal flange, said groove engaging loop portion affording a generally axially outwardly facing shoulder normally lying in spaced relation to the marginal portion of the cover and being engageable by said marginal portion of the cover upon flexure of said connecting loop portion of the clips.

6. In a cover for `disposition at the outer side of a vehicle wheel including a multi-flanged tire rim having a terminal flange formed with a radially inwardly opening groove, a cover body having a marginal flange portion adapted to lie in assembly adjacent to the terminal ange of a, tire rim, said marginal flange having an underturned reinforcing flange, said reinforcing flange having a plurality of sinuous retaining clips each of which includes a radially outer curled contractile loop adapted to engage in the groove of the tire rim terminal flange and a radially inner loop connected to the underturned marginal flange.

7. In a cover for disposition at the outer side of a vehicle wheel including a multi-flanged tire rim having a terminal flange formed with a radially inwardly opening groove, a cover body having a marginal flange portion adapted to lie in assembly adjacent to the terminal flange of the tire rim, said marginal flange having an underturned reinforcing flange, said reinforcing flange having a plurality of sinuous retaining clips each of which includes a radially outer curled contractile loop engageable in the groove of the tire rim terminal flange and a radially inner loop connected to the underturned marginal flange, each'of said loops being of similar radius so that the clips have generally S-shaped prole.

8. In a cover for disposition at the outer side of a vehicle wheel including a multi-flanged tire rim having a terminal flange formed with a radially inwardly opening groove, a cover body having a marginal flange portion adapted to lie in assembly adjacent to the terminal flange of the tire rim,

said marginal flange having an underturned reinforcing flange,

said reinforcing flange having a plurality of sinuous retaining clips each of which includes a radially outer curled contractile loop engageable in the groove of the tire rim terminal flange and a radially inner loop connected to the underturned marginal flange, the radially outer loop in each instance being of large radius and the inner loop being of relatively flattened structure and with the bight of the loop extending generally axially inwardly.

9. In a cover for disposition at the outer side of a vehicle wheel having a tire rim including a generally radially inwardly opening annular groove, a cover body having a marginal including an underturned flange of arcuate section with the edge extending generally axially inwardly and having a plurality of retaining clips thereon including curled contractile loops of similar section and in spaced relation within the channel defined by the flange and a substantially closed loop at the radially inner sides of the first mentioned loops connecting the first mentioned loops to the flange, the first mentioned loops having radially outwardly facing shoulders engageable resiliently in retaining relation within the groove of the tire rim.

10. In combination in a wheel cover for disposition at the outer side of a vehicle wheel, a cover body, said body having a marginal portion, an underturned flange on said marginal portion, and a plurality of S-shaped clips having base portions interconnected with said underturned flange and curled contractile loops engageable with a part of a vehicle wheel to retain the cover in snap-on, pry-off relation.

11. In a cover for disposition at the outer side of a vehicle wheel, a cover body having a marginal portion, an underturned flange on said marginal portion, and said marginal portion having a retaining clip thereon, said retaining clip being of sinuous form including a radially outer curled contractile loop and a radially inner loop, said radially inner loop being connected to the marginal flange and the radially outer loop being disposed behind the marginal flange and en gageable with the marginal flange upon relative axial movement of the marginal flange and the outer loop as permitted by resilience of the clip.

GEORGE ALBERT LYON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,368,228 Lyon Jan. 30, 1945 2,394,958 Wood Feb. 12, 1946 2,404,389 Lyon July 23, 1946 

